Should Christians Be Vegetarians?

What do we owe animals? Many Christians misunderstand their own tradition when answering this question, argues Charles Camosy, an expert on bioethics and animal ethics.

Traditional Christian ideas and principles—like nonviolence, concern for the vulnerable, stewardship for God's creation, and rejection of consumerism—have dramatic implications for how we (both as individuals and as larger communities) treat animals.

Though animal rights is generally understood to come from a liberal point of view, many conservative, pro-life advocates are beginning to emphasize nonviolence toward animals. Camosy's argument will transcend American secular politics.

Camosy teaches ethics at Fordham University. His books include Too Expensive to Treat? Finitude, Tragedy, and the Neonatal ICU (Eerdmans, 2010), Peter Singer and Christian Ethics: Beyond Polarization (Cambridge, 2012), and For Love of Animals: Christian Ethics, Consistent Action (Franciscan Media, 2013).